Millions of UK households now own an air fryer, and experts have issued a crucial 30-minute warning. Following this guidance before cleaning is essential to avoid any potential safety hazards.
In recent years, the air fryer has rapidly established itself as a kitchen essential in homes across the UK. Offering a convenient, oil-free cooking method, it provides a quick and healthier approach to preparing meals.
Never submerge the fryer in water
However, as with any household appliance, specific safety guidelines must be adhered to. Electrical Safety First, a charity dedicated to reducing electricity-related injuries and fatalities throughout the UK, has warned that a particular cleaning method could be hazardous when it comes to air fryers.
On its website, Electrical Safety First emphasised that people should "never" submerge the fryer in water, as this could prove extremely dangerous due to the potentially lethal combination of water and electricity. Such an action could also cause significant damage to the appliance itself. Electrical Safety First therefore recommends waiting "at least" 30 minutes after use before attempting to clean your air fryer.
The charity's guidance reads: "Never immerse the fryer in water, and always wait at least 30 minutes to clean it after use."
Safe cleaning steps
Thankfully, there are safe ways to clean the appliance. To do so, BBC Good Food suggests the following steps:
- After using your air fryer, make sure it's unplugged and fully cooled down.
- Take out all removable parts and separate the components.
- Each component should be washed with a mixture of warm water and washing-up liquid. Use the soft side of a sponge or cloth to avoid damaging the non-stick coating.
- Give particular attention to the basket's crevices for complete cleaning.
- For persistent, burnt-on food that won't budge with just the sponge, make a paste from baking soda and water and spread it on the stubborn areas. Allow this to sit for 20 minutes, or if you're short on time, gently scrub the mixture with an old toothbrush.
- Rinse the parts and allow them to dry.
When performing a thorough clean, bear in mind that the main body of the air fryer must not be immersed; it will require hand-cleaning as well.
Additional safety guidelines
This isn't the only safety advice to bear in mind when using your air fryer. Electrical Safety First has provided these guidelines to follow:
- Don't overfill your air fryer.
- Keep power cables away from hot surfaces and worktop edges.
- Never leave air fryer unattended while in use, and unplug at the socket when cooking is finished.
- Don't use any type of paper in air fryer.
- Never put an air fryer into water, apart from items recommended by the manufacturer, such as the basket.
- Always check the manufacturer's instructions.
For further details, head to the Electrical Safety First website.
